Want To Discover 5G Technology? Here’s How You Can Have Your First Taste

5G technology is evolving quickly and it’s well on its way to being widely available in Australia but for those who want to enjoy a taste of it now, head to the Gold Coast.

Residents and visitors in the Gold Coast are being given a taste of 5G technology now Telstra has turned on the first precinct of 5G-enabled Wi-Fi hotspots in the world. Plus, they get to enjoy it for free while Telstra evaluates 5G technology.

Telstra’s Group Managing Director Networks Mike Wright said Telstra is using the connectivity via its recently opened 5G Innovation Centre on the Gold Coast to power a series of Wi-Fi hotspots on Scarborough and Nerang Streets in Southport as well as a 5G Connected Car.

“We have said we intend to lead on 5G and with these 5G-enabled Wi-Fi hotspots Australian consumers will be among the first people in the world to try the technology,” he said.

“Taking 5G technology out of a lab and into the hands of consumers is another key milestone on Telstra’s roadmap to offering 5G services in 2019.”

There are no 5G compatible commercial smartphones or tablets available today. By connecting 5G backhaul and infrastructure in the Southport Exchange, to a standard Wi-Fi access point then people can use the technology on their existing device.

Using Wi-Fi access as part of Telstra’s 5G technical program is an innovative way to show the benefits of 5G capability in real-world conditions. The 5G hotspots will be open to anyone in the area and are free with a download limit of 10 GB per day per device.

“Wi-Fi has limited throughput so a single hotspot alone cannot come close to reaching the limits of 5G at our Innovation Centre. By using multiple hotspots with potentially hundreds of smartphone users served through a single 5G device we are able to get closer to demonstrating 5G in a real-world environment,” Mike Wright added.

The Gold Coast is the first precinct of 5G-enabled Wi-Fi hotspots in the world.

“Our 5G backhaul is capable of delivering download speeds of more than 3 Gbps, which is capable of supporting around 1,000 HD movies being streamed simultaneously.”

Telstra is also using mmWave spectrum and its 5G Innovation Centre to put a Connected Car on the road with the Intel 5G Automotive Trial PlatformTM, one of the most advanced 5G prototype devices available in the world today.

“Working with global technology companies Ericsson and Intel, we have put Australia’s first 5G Connected Car on the road. We are in the very early stages of development and are achieving download speeds approaching 1 Gbps inside the car and the vehicle is also equipped with a Wi-Fi access point,” Mike from Telstra said.

“At the start of the year, our 5G prototype device was the size of a bar fridge and weighed more than 200 kilograms. Now, in collaboration with Intel and Ericsson, we have one that has been shrunk down to the size of a personal computer and can be installed in a car.”

The Connected Car will help Telstra to start getting real results on mobile performance over mmWave and ensure 5G network readiness. These advances are part of a series of 5G related activities that Telstra, Ericsson, Intel and other technology companies will undertake on the Gold Coast in 2018.

The 5G Innovation Centre is central to a $60 million investment Telstra has made to upgrade infrastructure on the Gold Coast to support growing demand and major events in the area.

Robyn Foyster is the owner and publisher of Women Love Tech. She is CEO of AR Tech and helped develop it new shopping app Sweep. An award-winning journalist and former Editor-In-Chief of The Australian Women's Weekly. She is also the owner and publisher of GameChangers.com.au and TheCarousel.com. Robyn runs her own media business, Foyster Media. She was a judge of the 2018 & 2017 Telstra Business Awards. CEO of AR Tech and helped develop the Sweep app.